Colour Me Happy! - By Brandi Hofer Studios

"Maybe this is all I can do right now—and that has to be enough."We’re coming to you from a small hockey town in the middle of nowhere Canada—snowdrifts piled high, tiny coffee shops keeping us warm, and, yes… a lot of hockey. We didn’t bring all our podcast gear. We didn’t bring perfection. What we brought was gratitude.Gratitude for you! For giving us a little slice of your time, your attention, and your dedication to this podcast. Especially during a season that feels loud, full, and overwhelming.This episode (and this note) is a gentle check-in. A reminder to take care of yourself during the holidays. From one mom to another—this is coming from someone who recently cried in a closet because it all felt like too much.We try to do it all. We juggle everything. And sometimes it feels like the balls are dropping all around us. Maybe this season isn’t about doing more—but about saying: this is all I can do right now… and the rest just is.Ask for help where you can. Eat a snack. Take a bath. Make time for you—and book it in like the non-negotiable it truly is.Your creativity matters. It’s powerful. And it has the ability to change your life. Let’s step into the new year with intention, softness, and courage—together. Coming soon in the new year!Inspiring NEW artist interviewsLocal, in-person Memory Portrait Workshops & Summer Watercolour Day EscapesOur first-ever Art Retreat (applications opening soon!)Conversations that reconnect you to your creativity and yourself👉 Sign up to be the first to know about the art retreats & Workshops (HERE)Takeaway Tips:You don’t need to do it all—and you certainly don’t need to do it perfectly. Decide what actually matters right now, and let the rest be good enough.If it’s not scheduled, it won’t happen. Whether it’s a bath, a walk, journaling, painting, or five quiet minutes—put it in your calendar and treat it like a non-negotiable appointment.This is your reminder that asking for help is not failure—it’s wisdom. Let someone bring the snacks. Let something be unfinished. Let yourself be supported.

If you’re craving a dose of holiday nuttiness — the kind that makes you feel seen in the chaos — this quick episode is for you. Brandi is joined once again by the endlessly patient and wonderfully crafty Jacky Lindsay of So Bright Home. Together, they chat about DIY holiday magic, navigating burnout, and the importance of carving out real alone time this season.Whether it’s reading by the fire, hiding in the pantry for five minutes of silence (we’ve all been there), or trying one of Jacky’s cozy crafts — like the orange Christmas wreath we’re testing with our Art Academy — this episode is your permission slip to slow down and recharge.

Stop waiting to feel ‘good enough.’ Start now, learn as you go, and let the messy, wild ride shape you. - BrandiBe ready for some unfiltered talk on perimenopause, womanhood, and the bold reality of building a business from scratch. In this episode, Brandi Hofer sits down with designer and contractor Desirae Blanchette of Chevco Contracting and Design (Maidstone, SK) for a conversation that is not for the faint of heart.Together, they dive into the realities of being a female entrepreneur in a system that still wasn’t built for parents or women, and why authenticity, perseverance, and bold asks are the keys to carving out the life you want.They also get into the creative heart of home design: affordable transformations, the magic of secondhand finds, using paint as a superpower, and the importance of adding real personality to every space. This episode is an empowering reminder that YOU don’t need permission to begin - you just need to start!If you’ve been sitting on a dream, doubting your worth, or waiting for the ‘perfect time,’ this one will light a fire under you.1. Start before you feel ready.Your portfolio begins with whatever you can get your hands on — friends, family, tiny spaces, messy beginnings. Experience is built, not gifted.2. Authenticity is your greatest asset.Whether it’s your business, your art, or your home, let your real personality show. Cookie-cutter won’t get you far — character will.3. Build a life that fits you, not a system that wasn’t built for you.Embrace flexibility, ask boldly, and don’t be afraid to forge your own path, especially as a woman balancing motherhood and creativity.

Here’s a clean, emotional, on-brand set: title, quote, description, and two takeaway tips — written in your warm, empathetic, creative voice with zero emojis.“Your life doesn’t have to be calm for your creativity to matter. You just have to show up anyway.” - BrandiIn this heartfelt conversation, Brandi Hofer and artist Jenna Deibel get honest about what it truly looks like to make art inside a very full life. Between children, work, dinner on the stove, and even recording this episode during Thanksgiving, Jenna proves that creativity isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you choose in the middle of the mess.Together, they talk about expressionistic painting, working through frustrating mediums, and embracing imperfection as a creative compass. They also share the very real connection between undiagnosed ADHD traits, juggling too many projects, and how consistent creative practice supports their mental health.Jenna, nine weeks away from welcoming her fourth child, speaks openly about the pressure, joy, chaos, and deep grounding that art provides. Even slipping into the studio for a few minutes while cooking dinner helps her stay connected to her work and herself. She attributes some of Brandi's teaching with the Portrait Class help her sustain a practice in her busy life!This episode is a reminder that your art doesn’t disappear when life gets busy—you just learn to meet it wherever you are.1. Show up in small moments.You don’t need a long stretch of studio time to stay connected to your creativity. Even five intentional minutes keeps the momentum—and the joy—alive.2. Don’t wait for life to get easier.Busy seasons, interruptions, and emotional ups and downs are part of being human. Let your art be the thing that holds you, grounds you, and keeps you moving forward.

Every artist has a weird habit or two — sometimes that’s exactly where the magic starts. — Brandi This week on Colour Me Happy Podcast  The Strange, The Creative, The Brilliant: You’re getting two incredible artists for the price of one! We sat down with Rene  Romero Schuler and Taylor Smith, two creatives with wildly different processes but surprisingly overlapping gallery journeys. From the emotional and intentional to the messy and mischievous, we dive into the strange rituals and unexpected habits that fuel their most meaningful work — including Taylor’s hilarious confession about “borrowing” posters from city streets for her art. This episode is a celebration of the quirks, the chaos, the laughs and the pure creative spark that makes artists who they are. Your weird creative habit is in very good company here! Takeaway Tips: 1. Embrace Your Creative WeirdnessYour quirks aren’t flaws — they’re often the doorway to your most unique ideas and breakthroughs. 2. Different Paths, Same DestinationThere’s no “right” creative process. Whether structured or spontaneous, what matters is showing up and making space for expression. Dive deeper into this message of creativity and purpose in Brandi’s book Colour Me Happy — available now Click HERE